"The purpose of this investigation was to determine basic properties of tar sand core samples. Determination of these properties was undertaken to aid in selection of a location for conducting the field experiments to demonstrated the RF heating process; selection of a suitable technique for recovering the bitumen after heating the deposit using RF energy; prediction of rate of recovery of bitumen; and to understand fluid flow through a heated tar sand deposit. Initially, outcrop samples were collected from various tar sand deposits in Utah, California, and New Mexico for analysis. Based on these results, the Asphalt Ridge and Sunnyside deposits of Utah, and the Edna deposit of California were selected as candidate sites. After making arrangements with lease holders, core samples were obtained by drilling at these three deposits. In parallel to this effort, a core laboratory was set up at IITRI to measure reservoir properties of tar sand core samples. Raised on core analysis and logistic factors, Asphalt Ridge was selected as the site for conducting field experiments to demonstrate feasibility of the IITRI RF process to heat he deposit in situ. and to recover bitumen. From the permeability and capillary pressure measurements made in this program, it is also observed that recovery of bitumen is feasible by use of gravity drainage or gas drive . Characterization experiments conducted on tar sand core samples include determination of porosity, initial fluid saturations, absolute permeability, relative permeability for gas/oil and gas/water systems, capillary pressure, viscosity-temperature relationship for bitumen, and particle size distribution of spent sand. These data can be used as input to reservoir simulation models to predict rate of recovery under gravity drainage or gas drive after the deposit is heated using RF energy, and to understand fluid flow through the heated tar sand deposit."